Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-04-30

evince the most evident delight her singing,
were one and all dangerous things to do; aud
yet he did them and thought no harm.
As for Bessie, she was delighted that her
sister should have found anybody whom she
cared to talk to OF who could understand her.
1t never occurred to her that jess might fall
in love. jess was the last person in the world
to fall in love. Nor did she calculate what
the results might he to John As yet, at any
rate, she had no interest in Capt Niel-of
course not.
And so things went on pleasantly enough
to all concerned in this drama till one fine
day when the storm clouds began to gather.
John had been about the farm as usual till
dinner time, after which be took his gun and
told Jantje TO saddle uD his shooting pony.
He was standing on the veranda, waiting fol
the pony to appear, and by him was Bessie.
looking particularly attractive in white
dress, when Suddenly he caught sight of
Frank Muller'S great black horse and that
gentleman himself upon it, cantering up the
avenue of blue gums.
"Hullo, Miss Bessie, he said, "here comes
your friend"
"Botherl' said Bessie, stamping Der foot,
and then, with a quick look, "Why do you
call him my friend,n
al imagine thai he considers himself so, to
| judge from the number of times a week be
| comes to See YOU" he answered, with shrug.
AT any rate he isn't mine, so | am off
shooting Good-by. | hope that you will
| enjoy yourself"
"You are not kind" she said, in low voice,
| and turning her back on him
In another moment he was gone, and Frank
| Muller had arrived
"How do YOU do, Miss BeSse!" he said
| jumping from his horse with the raniaity OF a
man who had been accustomed to rough
riding all his life. where is the rooibaati e'
| off TOT
Capt. Mel is going out shooting" she said,
| codly.
"Ah, so much the better fer you and me,
Miss Bessiei We can have a pleasant talk
| Where is that black monkey, Jantjel Here,
Jantje, take my horse, you ugly devil and
mind you look after him. or I'll cut the liver
out of you!'
jamie took the horse. with a forced grin of
| appreciation at the joke, and led hun off
| round the house.
Il don't think that jamie likes you, Mein-
heer Muller said Bessie, spitefully, "and |
don't wonder at it if you talk to him like
that. He told me the other day that he had
known You tor twenty years. and She looked
at him iuquiringly
This casual remark produced a remarkable
effect on the visitor, who turned color be
meath his tanned skin
"He lies, the black hound" he said, "and
| Til put bullet through him if he saws it
L I
he about me? Can keep count of every
miserable man monkey | neetf" and be NUT
| tered a string of Dutch oaths into his long
| beard
"Really, meinheerl" said Bessie
| why do you call me 'meinheerfn he
asked, turning SO fiercely on her that she
started back a step. II tell you | am not a
Beer am an Englishman. My mother was
English; aud besides, thanks TO Lord Carnal'-
Won, We are all English now"
Il don't see why you should mind being
thought Boer,' she said, coolly; there are
some very good people among the Beers and,
besides, you used to be a great patriot
USED to he-ves; and so the trees used to
bend to the north when the wind blew that
way, but now they bend to the south, for the
! wind has turned By and by it may set t.
| the north again-that is another matter
then we shall see
Bessie made no answer, beyond pursuing W
her pretty mouth and slowly picking Leaf
| from the vine that trailed overhead
The big Dutchman took off his hat and
stroked his beard perplexedly Evidently he
was meditatiug something that be was afraid
to say. Twice he fixed his cold eyes on
Bessie's fair face, and twice looked down
again. TIE second time she took alarm.
Excuse me one minute she sid, and
made as though to enter the house
~Wacht cen beeche7 twait bt), he ejacu-
lated, breaking into Dutch in his agitation
and even catching bold of her white dreSs
with his big hand.
She drew the dress from him with quick
twist of her 1.-THE form, and turned and faced
him.
Il beg your pardon" she said, in tone
that could not he called encouraging; 'you
were going to say something"
"Ges-ah, that isl was going to say
and he paused
Bessie stood with polite look of expecta
ton on her face, and waited
Il was going 10 say-that, in short, that
want to marry youl'
"Ohn said Bessie. with n start
'Listen,' he went on, hoarsely, his words
gathering force as he proceeded, as is the way
even with uncultured people when they speal
from the heart. LISTEN love YOU Bessie
| have loved you for three years Every
time have seen you have loved Won more
Don't say me nay-you don't know how
love you l dream of you every night: some
times dream that ] hear your dress rustling
and then you come and kiss me, and it is ik,
being in heaven"
Here Bessie made gesture of disgust
There, ] have offended you. but don't b,
angry with ME. ! am very rich, Bessie
there is the place here, and then have foul
:: :: !: !: :: ): !: !: !: : !;
thing-the house shah be English fashion;
" will lh build Ia new sitka%e sitting Ting, room an{